The night was as dark as ink, the only sound echoing on the silent long street was Zhao Wuhuan's voice.

Heifeng's gaze slightly narrowed, his Adam's apple moved: "But... this is an order from above; if you, sir, choose to ignore it..."

Zhao Wuhuan's icy gaze swept over like a blade: "Are you scared?"

Heifeng trembled all over, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead: "I wouldn't dare."

Zhao Wuhuan waved his sleeve: "I know my limits; no matter the great implications, I will bear it alone."

Heifeng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his palm cool and damp: "Sir, you misunderstand, that was not my intention..."

Zhao Wuhuan turned and walked into the depths of the darkness: "Less nonsense, the matter of the demon hall is urgent, keep watching."

Watching that receding figure, Heifeng dared not say more, hurriedly following.

Before leaving, he glanced thoughtfully in the direction Qin An had left.

"To be valued by Mr. Qin, if indeed he can survive the Yang Elixir calamity, this person might rise to great heights..."

The long street returned to silence, only the light rustling of the night breeze passing over the blue stone slabs.

...

The next day.

When the first light of dawn pierced through the window, Qin An arose early, washed simply, and had breakfast.

Sitting at the stall, he rubbed the silver medal in his hand, a task list appearing hazily before his eyes.

Now, his butcher profession had reached level nine, while the others had halted at level seven, yet he was not eager to advance them.

His achievements were used up; even if he leveled other professions to nine, there were no Cultivation Techniques for him to deduce.

So after a night's rest, Qin An began preparing to take on new tasks.

At least deduce his saber technique to the Pulse Condensation Realm first.

The streets around were bustling, but it did not affect Qin An's concentration at this moment.

"I need to take a nearby task."

Qin An tapped the silver medal with his finger, his gaze sweeping the list like a hawk.

He was merely looking to swiftly gain achievements, after which he would return to the Evil Extermination Bureau to deduce his saber technique to level nine, so he needed not choose a distant task.

However, just as Qin An was screening, he suddenly sensed a gaze sweeping over him.

Qin An frowned, looking in the direction of the gaze.

He saw a girl in a State Official uniform timidly peering from a corner of the street.

The girl was extraordinarily cute, with delicate, well-defined features and a graceful figure.

Qin An felt a familiar sensation about this young woman.

After thinking it over, he realized why he felt this way.

This was Ye Lengyu, whom he had saved from the hands of the tree spirit.

After Qin An's gaze swept over Ye Lengyu, she let out a startled cry like a frightened little rabbit and was about to turn and run.

After Qin An saved her, she joined the Evil Extermination Bureau and became a State Official in the Foreign Affairs Department.

A few days ago, she went on a mission with her sister and only returned yesterday.

She had planned to find something to eat outside, never expecting to meet Qin An.

Awe and curiosity intertwined, Ye Lengyu watched from afar.

She hadn't expected Qin An to notice her.

She always held a sense of curiosity towards her savior, and with Qin An's current status and authority, she felt awe in addition to curiosity.

Because of this awe, although she wanted to approach, she did not dare.

Ye Lengyu was about to flee but after taking two steps, she stopped, clenching her white teeth.

"Why run, it's just a few words, he won't eat you!"

She cheered herself on internally.

"Putting aside Mr. Qin's status, he is my savior, it would be too rude not to greet him."

Although her sister always admonished her not to disturb Mr. Qin, or daydream about becoming his follower.

But at her age, how could she obey her sister's words?

Ye Lengyu took two deep breaths, clenched her pink fists, her knuckles turning white from exertion.

After forcing herself to calm down, she approached Qin An.

But her small clenched fists betrayed her nervous heart at the moment.

Qin An was preparing to pay and leave, hearing footsteps, he then saw Ye Lengyu walking over with a determined look.

After a brief thought, Qin An sat back down.

Once Ye Lengyu was close, Qin An spoke, his voice as cold as a chilly pond: "You are very nervous?"

Ye Lengyu let out a startled sound, suddenly losing her composure, looking bewildered.

The facade of calm she had managed to put on crumbled instantly.

Her little hands kept fidgeting, her face as red as an apple, she lowered her head and remained silent.

She originally prepared herself mentally, but didn't expect Qin An to notice her nervousness at a glance, now her plans were all thrown into chaos, not knowing how to speak.

Qin An raised an eyebrow and said: "Is there something?"

He was busy taking tasks and didn't want to waste time.

If Ye Lengyu had nothing, he would leave first.

Ye Lengyu snapped back to reality, her small fists tightly clenched, using a tone of gritted teeth she said: "Thank you... for saving my life, Mr. Qin."

Qin An frowned and said: "If it's gratitude, why do you have such a reluctant look?"

Ye Lengyu then realized, she was too nervous just now, causing her expression to be slightly out of control, she waved frantically and said: "I... I'm just too nervous, not reluctant, you, you, you, don't misunderstand..."

The more she spoke, the more she stuttered, her eyes became misty, almost crying.

So embarrassing.

In front of the one she admired, she did something so humiliating, how could she face Mr. Qin in the future.

Qin An nodded and said: "I understand."

Ye Lengyu stood there, stunned.

Qin An stood up and said: "Saving you back then was merely a transaction between me and your sister, don't take it to heart."

He understood what the young woman before him meant.

Perhaps she wanted to thank him in person, but the young woman was thin-skinned, inevitably causing a slight mishap during the gratitude.

Ye Lengyu returned to her senses.

For some reason, facing Qin An's indifference, she instead calmed herself down.

"Sister said..." Ye Lengyu gently bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth, "Your distinguished identity, Mr. Qin, as a new noble in Lingzhou, doesn't need my gratitude, but I always feel that there are things that I need to say to you personally. If you lack followers, I am willing to be by your side."

Qin An shook his head and said, "No need, I'm used to being alone."

What is a follower? It's completely different from subordinate; it's the most trusted person.

He is a mountain patroller, a solitary man, so a follower is the last thing he needs.

Ye Lengyu showed a hint of disappointment, pulled out a small cloth bundle from her bosom, and handed it to Qin An: "Mr. Qin, this is for you."

Although she had heard from her sister long ago that her strength couldn't even compare to Qin An's feet, she still couldn't hide her disappointment when he said it personally.

Qin An frowned and said, "I told you, there's no need for this."

A deal is a deal, the original transaction was completed, and Qin An didn't want to get involved in anything else.

Besides, he knew his situation.

Although his status and strength had risen, the demon hall viewed him as a calamity, eager to deal with him swiftly.

The more ties he had in Lingzhou, the more flaws there would be.

Ye Lengyu hurriedly shook her head and said, "Mr. Qin, you misunderstood, this is a cultivation technique for the Gui Cang Realm..."

Qin An was slightly taken aback, then picked up the cloth bundle and opened it to find a saber technique named "Blood Transformation Saber."

"Why do you have a Gui Cang Realm saber technique?"

The Ye Lengyu in front of him was just in the Qi Concealment Realm, the most basic realm.

How could a state official at the Qi Concealment Realm possess a Gui Cang Realm saber technique? This was indeed quite strange.

Ye Lengyu's hands were folded at her lower abdomen, her fingers gently twisting: "When I returned, I met a young man in brocade clothes. He said he greatly admired you, Mr. Qin. He was once saved by you, so he needs to express his gratitude."

Qin An slightly frowned, his gaze sharpened: "A young man in brocade clothes? Why deliver it to me through you?"

He couldn't recall saving such a person, as most of his tasks involved killing.

Let alone needing to deliver through Ye Lengyu.

Ye Lengyu shook her head and said, "I originally planned to have a meal before going back to find you, Mr. Qin, but unexpectedly met you here. I got so excited earlier that I almost forgot about this."

Upon saying this, Ye Lengyu felt somewhat amused.

She had really forgotten earlier; she was too nervous.

Qin An looked Ye Lengyu up and down and said, "Understood, don't accept things from strangers in the future."

Ye Lengyu's eyes reflected a glimmer: "Even if it's related to you, Mr. Qin, shouldn't I?"

Qin An shook his head and said, "Whether it's truly related or not, no one can be sure."

Ye Lengyu scratched her head, her small face showing a touch of incomprehension.

Qin An patted Ye Lengyu's shoulder, walked towards the Evil Extermination Bureau: "Be more cautious in the future. If you remain so naive, the Evil Extermination Bureau might not be suitable for you."

Not until Qin An walked far away did Ye Lengyu come back to her senses.

Looking at her shoulder where Qin An had patted, the warmth from his fingertips colored even her ears red, making her completely forget what he said. Her face turned rosy like a ripe peach.

"He patted my shoulder!"

Ye Lengyu blossomed like a blooming flower, her lips curling upward involuntarily, all her previous tension vanished.

She quickly headed towards the Evil Extermination Bureau to tell her sister everything that happened today.

Though her sister appeared cold, Ye Lengyu knew well that her sister admired Mr. Qin from the bottom of her heart too.

Being patted on the shoulder by Mr. Qin today, once she returned, her sister would likely die of envy.

...

Qin An didn't concern himself with what happened next.

Upon returning to the Evil Extermination Bureau, he locked the door latch and laid the "Blood Transformation Saber" flat on the desk.

Running his fingers over the yellowing pages, Qin An's eyes showed deep contemplation.

"The young man in brocade clothes... quite interesting, giving a saber through someone else, what exactly is the intention?"

On his way back, Qin An was quite certain he hadn't interacted with anyone wearing brocade clothes.

Yet through Ye Lengyu's connection, the cultivation technique was delivered into his hands.

What does the opponent mean? Qin An didn't know, but it wouldn't affect his subsequent plans.

"Originally planned to accept a task, but now seems unnecessary."

Qin An flipped through the cultivation technique before him, thinking to himself: "After simulating it, practice with a different profession."

The appearance of the Blood Transformation Saber interrupted Qin An's plans.

Tasks can be skipped, but simulation must continue.

Declining a freely given cultivation technique would make Qin An look too cautious.

As for what happens later, and what that young man in brocade clothes intends, that can wait until he encounters it later.

At this thought, Qin An opened the Blood Transformation Saber technique and began to read carefully.

With the Nine-Level Scholar as a foundation, Qin An's reading and comprehension speed was extremely fast.

From the first page to the last, only half a stick of incense time passed.

"This is indeed a saber technique that fills gaps." Qin An rubbed the cold star, pondering.

The so-called Blood Transformation Saber is ruthlessly fierce when drawn.

It also has the characteristic of absorbing blood to replenish the body.

When using the Blood Transformation Saber, if a wound is left on the enemy, the blade can absorb the essence and blood from the enemy to convert into True Qi, replenishing oneself.

This saber technique is particularly suited for prolonged battles.

"Begin."

Qin An extracted the cold star from his waist and began practicing the saber technique according to the Blood Transformation Saber routine in the room.

The cold star unsheathed, instantly filling the room with a flash of saber light.

As the moves unfolded, snake-like smoke patterns gathered before his eyes.

[You practice the Blood Transformation Saber, triggering the Butcher's talent]

[Blood Transformation Saber (Perfection)]

The Gui Cang Realm saber technique reached the Realm of Perfection in an instant under the Nine-level Butcher talent.

Qin An continued demonstrating the saber technique without pause, simultaneously mobilizing the stored qi and blood within his body.

If he were to simulate, it'd be according to Qin An's thoughts, pushing the saber technique to the Pulse Condensation Realm.

Inside the room, saber shadows multiplied.

Before his eyes, smoke again gathered like snake shapes.

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